FLOOD PROTECTION PLANNING

Room for the River in The Netherlands’ IJsseldelta

CHALLENGE:

After experiencing extremely high water levels in 1993 and 1995, the Dutch Government opted to lower the IJssel’s summer bed by more than 7.5 km to improve the spatial quality of its five flood plains.

SOLUTION:

• Lowered the river bed for the Lower IJssel and Kampen bypass (Reevediep)

• Constructed a high-water drainage channel between the IJssel and Drontermeer

• Added dykes beside drainage channel to enhance discharge speed

RESULT:

• Reduced likelihood of flooding

• Deeper navigation channel

• Fast discharge of large volumes of water thanks to additional dykes